Conflict about the empty drink (5)
I believe the answer is:
water
'drink' is the definition.
(water is an example)
'conflict about the empty' is the wordplay.
'conflict' becomes 'war' (war is a kind of conflict).
'about' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'empty' suggests removing the centre.
'the' with its middle taken out is 'te'.
'war' enclosing 'te' is 'WATER'.
(Other definitions for water that I've seen before include "Earth, air, fire partner" , "Compound of hydrogen and oxygen" , "Irrigate" , "Superior's full of it" , "(Of eyes) produce tears" .)